DAY 27 - DESTINATION - DODGE CITY, KS

Miles: 87.o - Total Miles: 1,784 - Total Ascent: 49,429 ft.

The hotel I was at last night, in Great Bend, was by far the worst so far - just a dirty place. The bathtub did not drain well...at all. For those of you that know me, you can imagine my displeasure standing in an unfamiliar bathtub, with grime and water up to my shins - yuck!

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It only got worse. Today was, by far, the most difficult day of riding. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it ended up being THE WORST! Did I say yesterday was flat? Silly me, it looks like I spoke too soon. Because today I saw flat, flat, flat! Now, how about wind? Did I mention that it is windy in Kansas? At dinner tonight, I read on the menu that Dodge City is the windiest City in the country. Allow me to testify....

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As I was leaving my hotel room this morning, I heard on the Weather Channel that the winds would be 25 - 30 miles an hour; with gusts blowing at 40 - 50 miles an hour! Can you imagine that? I'm not so sure you can. What should have been a 7 hour ride, ended up taking 8 hours...to the half way point! At times, I was riding between 3 - 5 miles per hour. Shortly into the ride I noticed a dust storm up ahead. My options were limited to turning around and going back, or carrying on and going through it. So, upward and onward I went.

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I came across a group of American Legion motorcyclists. They indicated that they were having a picnic nearby, but that their annual "ride" had been canceled...because it was too windy for those big harley's to stay on the road. So, where did that leave me? On the ground. That's right, while pedaling along, with no cars in sight, the wind (literally) blew me off of my bike. One moment I am standing up, looking down, pedaling with all of my might; and the next moment me, my bike, and my trailer are laying in the grass alongside the road. What's worse, is that this happened 3 times! One time, as I was picking myself up off the ground, I felt a pain in my ear. When I felt it, the ear-bud of my iPod was still in my ear (under my headband), but the wire had been ripped off. When I would notice an 18 wheeler coming, I would literally stop, spread my legs for stability, put my head down on my handlebars, and hold on. Needless to say...it's windy!

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Once I arrived at the half-way point, or just beyond it, I realized that if I were to continue along, I would reach Dodge City somewhere around midnight (if I survived). Again, those of you that know me, know that "I can't" is not allowed. After all, whether you think you can, or cannot, you're right, right? Which also brought to my mind something that a wise man once told me, "It's easy to be hard; but it's hard to be smart." That being said, my number one obligation is to my wife and children. The support that I receive from them definitely warrants common sense decisions in return.

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So, at a gas station in Kinsley, as the sun was getting lower in the sky and the winds continued to blow, I attempted to hitch a ride 37 miles to Dodge City. I waited to find, what I thought was, the right person. Up pulled a pickup truck with a man and lady inside. After the man got out (wearing boots, wranglers, hat, belt buckle, the whole nine yards) and walked towards me, I approached him with one of my cards, explained why I was out here, and asked if I could give him $20 for a ride into Dodge City. He said that I would have to wait a moment as he would have to check with his wife. I watched him get back in his truck, share my card with his wife, and simply drive away. Blast! After waiting nearly 30 minutes for another pickup truck, I began to grow impatient. Two Mexicans pulled up with some construction equipment in the back of their truck. They appeared to be hard working laborers. I explained myself to the one, who translated to the other, and they agreed. Relieved, but apprehensive as well, I loaded my bike and trailer into their truck bed, and got in their truck and off we went...to "get into Dodge."

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I told them they could just drop me off at the city limits. But they said they would take me right to my hotel. I have to admit that as I listened to them communicate in Spanish with one another, as well as on their cell phones, my apprehensions grew. I made a conscious decision to keep my small tote-bag, with my survival knife, in my lap and also said a prayer. Moments later we arrived, in one piece, at the Dodge City Holiday Inn. After unloading, I handed the driver $20 and they both refused to take it. I even insisted, but they said they were just glad to help. How foolish I felt, and how thankful I am to Edgar and Beto. Thank you guys!

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At dinner tonight, my waitress was so impressed with my journey, that she asked for my autograph! What made it funny, was the only thing she had for me to sign, was the back side of a photograph of her and her husband! How funny is that?

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The solo portion of my journey ended today. If my right leg is going to survive the second half of this ride, then it is going to require a support vehicle to carry some of the load. My dad arrived tonight, and will drive along for all of week five. As the winds continue to blow, I'll be able to use his truck as a shield. Thanks Dad, for coming out here. What a day!

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"I CAN!"